KSC-2010-2879

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - At NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, STS-132 Commander Ken Ham announces to media representatives gathered for his crew’s arrival for a practice launch dress rehearsal called the Terminal Countdown Demonstration Test, or TCDT, that Pilot Tony Antonelli has recently been promoted to the rank of captain in the U.S. Navy. From left are Mission Specialists Garrett Reisman and Michael Good; Antonelli; Ham, at the microphone; and Mission Specialists Steve Bowen and Piers Sellers. In the background is a mate-demate device, used to lift the shuttle on or off the back of a Shuttle Carrier Aircraft. The STS-132 crew arrived at Kennedy’s Shuttle Landing Facility at 6:11 p.m. EDT aboard four T-38 jets. TCDT provides each shuttle crew and launch team with an opportunity to participate in various simulated countdown activities, including equipment familiarization and emergency training. On the STS-132 mission, the six-member crew will deliver an Integrated Cargo Carrier, or ICC, and the Russian-built Mini-Research Module-1, or MRM-1, to the International Space Station aboard space shuttle Atlantis. The ICC is an unpressurized flat bed pallet and keel yoke assembly used to support the transfer of exterior cargo from the shuttle to the space station. The MRM-1, known as Rassvet, is the second in a series of new pressurized components for Russia and will be permanently attached to the Earth-facing port of the Zarya control module. Rassvet, which translates to 'dawn,' will be used for cargo storage and will provide an additional docking port to the station. STS-132 is the 34th mission to the station and the 132nd shuttle mission overall. Atlantis is targeted to launch on May 14 at 2:19 p.m. For information on the STS-132 mission, visit http:__www.nasa.gov_mission_pages_shuttle_shuttlemissions_sts132_index.html. Photo credit: NASA_Cory Huston